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Farm Kitchen:  Making do with what we have on hand  |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
 Posted - May 02 2009 : 12:56:54 PM
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| We had over night guest last week. He makes wonderful sausage gravy for breakfast. So when he and Ole Ron went out to shut up the chickens, I ask them to bring in some sausage and a pound of butter from the freezer. Our guest ask if we had any Grands biscuits, I said No, I would make biscuits. They came in and our guest said that he could not eat hot sausage (all we had). I told them to go back out and get out a package of pork country style ribs. I would thaw them out, guind them up and make sausage. Our guest said, Oh no, we'll run to town and buy sausage and get some Grands biscuits at the same time. You know something? It never entered my mind to go to town at 8:00 in the evening to buy something for breakfast. |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2009 : 1:56:45 PM
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Im with you I go to town once a week and I can't remember the last time I went anywhere in the dark except to check the dogs and the chickens.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2009 : 5:41:36 PM
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Belle, you sound like me. If I don't have it I'll make it. I am not buying ketchup or mayo anymore. I make ketchup with my canned tomatoes and a little tom. paste and sugar. Tastes just like store bought. My hubby told me several times how impressed he is that I can go in the kitchen and just whip something up in no time with what's in the pantry or freezer. My kids cannot do that. They think if it didn't come out of a box it ain't dinner. But Heather, my oldest, is getting better. She made meatballs tonight. The kids liked them.
But I really don't need to go to the store except for toilet paper and animal feed. I make bread, have chickens for eggs and meat, have goats for milk, got a freezer and pantry FULL of food. I just worry about the power going out, which it did a few weeks ago for 12 hours.
That is good ole farmgirl knowhow, huh? Ya either got it or ya don't!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2009 : 6:35:09 PM
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Kris, I made homemade Mayo one time. We ate it all in just a couple of minutes. Too good. If homemade ketchup is as good, can't tell what we would do.
Like you, only go to town for wal-mart stuff and the feed store. Any thing else is because it is on sale.
Our out of town guest are perfect examples of "run to town if you want something". Would not want to be at their house in the event of an emergency. |
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lovelady
True Blue Farmgirl
533 Posts
Toni
Indiana
USA
533 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2009 : 7:50:45 PM
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The last time I went to the grocery store was almost three weeks ago. I am so happy about that! I stopped by the store that night and got milk and just a few other things, but when I got home, I had a hard time getting those few things in our cupboard, so I decided to challenge myself to use up what we have before going shopping again. It has actually been really fun and has made me more creative in making our meals. Of course, we have had to stop by the store for milk and diapers, but that is it. The farther into this challenge I get, the more I want to stick with it and try to carry it through until our garden starts producing. Don't know if we can make it that long, but it will be fun to try!
I think it is fun to find as many things as possible to make from scratch instead of buying it from the store. I have been saving links to recipes for all kinds of convenience items like onion soup mix, cool-whip, sweetened condensed milk, taco seasoning, etc. |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2009 : 03:49:14 AM
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that is crazy eh? some people have to have certain things and never experiment in the kitchen ...too bad for them
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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sonshine4u
Chapter Guru
1205 Posts
April
New Prague
MN
USA
1205 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2009 : 2:38:33 PM
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I'm sure your friends thought that they didn't want to bother you...ahem...but if they only knew what they were missing with homemade biscuits and homemade sausage....oh my!!! they really missed a great treat!
I made a vow to hubby a couple weeks ago that I refuse to buy one more box of cake mix, refrigerator biscuits and the like cause it's so full of awful things! I am also wanting to learn how to make ketchup from scratch with all my tomatoes this summer!
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
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Tammyb
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Tammy
Bluffton
Ohio
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2009 : 05:38:21 AM
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I don't like going grocery shopping so I stock up when things we use are on sale. I think we can live out our our freezer and off our shelves for several weeks with only needing milk. I like shopping from my pantry best ... no long lines !!It's a shame that your guest wasn't willing to try something new. Maybe next time.
Tammyb 541 |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2009 : 07:21:38 AM
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Funny about the biscuits and sausage. People tickle me to pieces sometimes. But I found the comments on what you all run to the store to buy just as interesting as your friend, Belle. I guess almost everything could be made from scratch but we all make choices on how much we want to put into our necessities. A study in psychology, sociology....some "ology" anyhow!
I just think we're all quirky...I know I am!
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://cookecreeksheep.blogspot.com
http://cookecreekwool.etsy.com |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2009 : 03:30:15 AM
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We have 2 exchange students here for 9 days. they are great gals that will eat anything! I am enjoying using up bits and pieces from our freezer:)
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2009 : 05:21:03 AM
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I had to laugh as I read your post. I had a similar guest who wanted to "run into town to pick up a few things" and I said your welcome to, however it will have to wait until tomorrow ( it was 6:30 at night).
They were puzzled and asked why? I had to explain that the two stores they planned on shopping at were closed and would reopen first thing in the morning. They were "shocked" to say the least. . . coming from a land of 24 hour convenient stores!! LOL!!!
Love the "Can do, Make do" attitude of a Farm Girl!!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2009 : 08:13:28 AM
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| Tammy, I love shopping from my pantry too. When I go out to the shop (2 freezers & 1 fridge/freezer) or when I go down to the celler, I take along a grocery bag or two. My granddaughter calls the celler, Grandma's store. Right now I am concentration on using up some of the stuff here in the house fridge/freezer. It gets so full of leftovers and small things that I finally take it out to the big freezer, then it dosen't get eaten. I forget it is there until I don't recognize it any more. Trying not to do that. |
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Peg Graham
True Blue Farmgirl
281 Posts
Peg
Chesapeake
Virginia
USA
281 Posts |
Posted - Aug 23 2009 : 1:53:51 PM
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I'm a 'make-do' kind of gal also. Biscuits are best homemade.
Today I actually made up a recipe with some ingredients I already had in my pantry.
I made Crockpot Lentil Chili. I am trying to eat less meat and substitute to non-animal foods.
The Chili isn't done yet...has 1 more hour to go, but smells yummy!
miles of smiles~
Peg
http://thelavenderfairy.blogspot.com/ |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - Aug 23 2009 : 2:58:38 PM
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I'm trying to use up what is in my freezer ....there is sooooooo mcuh in there!
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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vintagediva1
True Blue Farmgirl
1251 Posts
Michele
Brighton
Michigan
USA
1251 Posts |
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Rivergirl_2007
True Blue Farmgirl
332 Posts
Shirley
Karnak
IL
USA
332 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2009 : 07:58:17 AM
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| It sounds like most of us came from the same cabbage patch. I have a friend who's husband refuses to eat leftovers, so their refrigerator always looks empty. Mine, well it is stacked at least two layers deep. One night a week, we have pickit for dinner. I open the door and say pick what you want. I then combine leftovers or just reheat several different things. |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2009 : 08:31:21 AM
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Well, I'm not much for leftovers, either, so when I do make something that has a lot left, I freeze it for the winter months. I'm much more inclined on a cooooold night after work to pull something out of the freezer than make something up!
We do "make do" with what we have on hand, though. A few months back, we had an ice storm and couldn't get out of the house. Jus wanted tuna salad, but our mayo was a hundred years old. So I made my own and that's the only way we have mayo now. I think if you have a well stocked pantry, you can do anything. I try to do that--3 kinds of flour, sugars, spices, eggs, milk, cream, etc...learning about substitutions is a wonderful thing, too. If you don't have oil, you can use applesauce in cakes for moisture, or mayonnaise. I have this little church cookbook (one of those fundraiser kinds?) that was my Great Aunt's, and it has all those little tips in there. Nice reference to keep on hand (for an ice storm) or when your friend comes to visit who can't eat spicy sausage and only likes Grands biscuits 
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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FL_farmgirl
Farmgirl in Training
17 Posts
Jen
Florida
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2009 : 06:23:59 AM
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Reading all these posts has made me laugh, and re-evaluate some of my "practices"...the grocery store is too far away from my house, so I try to make as few trips as possible, however it is so tempting to grab things off the shelf that are solely for convenience...I've decided to double up on my staples my next trip out and not buy any boxed cake mixes, brownies, etc. I already always make biscuits and some bread from scratch, but want to forgo buying bread at all...
Sometimes it seems daunting to do all that cooking and baking with 5 kids to teach and a house to keep clean, but then I remember that's what women used to do all the time...and with a lot more kids and responsibility than I have :)
Thanks ladies
Jen |
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AngieB
Farmgirl in Training
19 Posts
Angie
Elizabethtown
PA
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2009 : 6:48:49 PM
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| Oh my goodness, Jen I know what you mean! I want to do so much more but it's hard with children and homeschooling and everything else to do. I make trips to the grocery store too many times to admit. You ladies are a real encouragement to stop doing that!!! |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2009 : 06:26:15 AM
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Hi Alee I am great! enjoying being a mom!!
last night I looked in the fridge and made a veggie stew.....it is getting cold here so I felt like stew. i put all kinds of veggies and a hanful of lentils and some leftover ham bits. YUM! even Oliver like it!
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
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aunt boby
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
toby
polo
illinois
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2009 : 07:15:00 AM
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I have had to make life altering changes in the last 6 months. DH took a new job where he gets paid on the 1st of every month. So toward the end of the month impulse shopping is not an option anymore. I decided to make monthly menues and try to do the majority of the grocery shopping at the beginning of the month. It has worked out pretty good. I try to stretch two meals out of one. For example, I'll plan pork roast one night then a couple nights later we'll have pork tostadas with the leftovers. And I'll look at my calendar and plan crockpot meals on a hectic day since I have 3 boys in soccer and football right now. I still do have to make emergency trips to the store once in awhile and will go if there is a really good sale on something but it is not nearly as much as before. Since I started making the menues I don't think we waste as much food as before either.
POOR IS THE MAN WHO CANNOT ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE- anonymous |
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Lainey
True Blue Farmgirl
2401 Posts
Elaine
Waco
Kentucky
USA
2401 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2009 : 08:27:07 AM
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I'm loving reading all these ideas and tips. I'd never thought of making my own mayo or ketchup before, but my grandmothers used to. I'm going to look up a recipe for the mayo. We are a 'make do' kind of family too.
Farmgirl Sister #25
http://countrygirldreams.blogspot.com/
An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.' |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13628 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13628 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2009 : 08:33:03 AM
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I USED to use canned biscuits until we had some leftover and they sat on the baking sheet for a while. After I saw the BIG puddle of grease they were sitting in . . . well, I said there would be no more of that. Homemade biscuits from now on!!!
CJ
...from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado |
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Farm Kitchen: Making do with what we have on hand |
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Making do with what we have on hand
